Washing-machine



(ModeL) D. M. RUSH.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 250,395. Patented Dec. 6,1881.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID MARION RUSH, OF BUFFALO, MISSOURI.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,395, dated December 6, 1881.

Application filed September 24, 1881. (Model) To all whom it may concern:

-Beit known that I, D. MARION RUSH, ofBuffalo, in the county of Dallas and State of Missouri, havein vented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and useit, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in roller washing-machines; and it consists, first, in thecombinationofheadedfriction-rods which project from the bottom of the base-board, adjusting-levers, set-screws, and notched blocks, which are attached to the lower ends of the springs, whereby the tension of the spring may be increased or diminished at will; second, in the large upper roller, which has its outer surface divided by a series of grooves into longitudinal flanges, which assist in the cleansing of the clothes, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention complete. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is an inverted view.

A represents the base-board, from the top of which rise the two standards B. These two standards have notches or recesses cut in their upper ends, so as to receive the driving-shaft O, which passes through the large roller D. This roller D has its surface divided by a series of lon gitudinal flanges, which are arranged in groups of three, as shown in Fig. 2. The outer two of these flanges E are wider and deeper and extend at a greater angle than their two inner sides, which are made nearly vertical, and in between these two flanges E is placed a larger flange, E, which has its sides made at an angle of about forty-five degrees. Each group of flanges is separated from the others by a deep wide-groove, for the purpose of producing a ponndingorjumping movement of this upper cylinder upon the series of lower ones as the clothes are being passed back and forth in the usual manner.

Journaled in the two standards B, just below this large roller, are a series of smaller rollers, F Gr, the three inner ones, G, of which have spiral grooves running around them from end to end, and the groove in the one roller is made to run in the opposite direction from that in the next adjoining one. The two outer rollers, F, are fluted from one end to the other in the usual manner, while the three inner ones, G, have smooth outer surfaces. By making grooves in the three inner rollers and having the grooves run in opposite directions the water is allowed to escape much more freely and conveniently from the clothes, carrying the dirt with it, and hence the clothes are more easily cleaned.

The pressure of the upper roller upon the lower ones is regulated by the spiral springs H, which have the plugs I inserted in their ends. These plugs have notches made in their sides, so that the upper pair can catch over oppositeends of the driving-shaft, while the lower pair will be made to catch over the adjustingle'vers. The inner ends of these plugs are flattened upon one side and project up into the spring, so as to pass each other, as shown, and

thus fill, or nearly fill, the springfrom one end to the other, so as to brace and strengthen the spring and hold it always in a direct line with the pressure. Where the plugs are not used springs of this kind are liable to be easily broken and injured.

Projecting downward from the under side of the base-board A are the friction-guides L, over which are passed the inner ends of the lever N, which catch in the lower pair of plugs near their centers, and which levers have their outer ends passed over the adjusting-screws O, which are swiveled to the under side of the base. By turning these screws the outer ends of the levers are moved in such a manner as to either increase or relax the tension of the springs, as may be desired. As the outer ends of the levers are drawn outward or inward by means of the screws, the inner ends of the levers move back and forth upon the friction-guides and remain in any position in which they are drawn or forced.

In order to secure this machine in tubs of different sizes there is secured to its under side the sliding double-pronged catch R, which moves in suitable guides, and which is adapted to have its outer end catch in or against the sides of the tub in which the machine is to he used.

By means of the peculiar-shaped grooves made in the large roller, the roller takes a bet ter hold of the goods and prevents them from slipping, and the consequent wear which is so common in many machines where the roller is simply corrugated in the usual manner. The small rollers, being grooved in opposite directions, givea IEWGISQd motion, thereby making in all four difi'erent changes of surface every time the goods pass through the machine, and consequently remove the streaks and spots in the clothes in less time than can be done in a machine which gives only onecontinuouspressure. Were these small rollers all grooved in one direction they would give but one pressure, in which case one roller would do as well as three.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. Thecombinationofthefriction-guides,the 2o levers, the adjusting-screws, and the springs, the springs being provided with suitable means for attachment to the levers, substantially as set forth.

2. The roller D, having its surface divided 25 bylongitudinal groovesinto theseries oftlanges E E, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID MARION RUSH.

Witnesses:

A. A. BAMSAY, J. M. RUssELL. 

